On July 7, the Daegu city government announced that it is leading efforts to improve citizens' mental health by operating the "Warm Cafe Connecting Hearts: Maitda," which is open to any citizen experiencing psychological difficulties such as depression, anxiety, or stress.
The "Maitda Cafe" operates by having mental health professionals visit cafes located near daily living spaces to provide counseling, significantly improving both accessibility and satisfaction for citizens regarding mental health services.
Citizens who visit the cafe are given promotional goods (coffee drip bags, tea bags) that allow them to access an online mental health screening via QR code, and support is provided to ensure smooth linkage to counseling reservations based on screening results.
As of 2025, Daegu is operating a total of 86 "Maitda Cafes," including Hands Coffee, Coffeemyeongga, and independent cafes, and provides regular counseling every Wednesday at designated counseling cafes.
After completing a self-assessment on the Daegu Mental Health Welfare Center website, citizens can make a reservation for counseling through the reservation page. For those who have difficulty using online services, reservations can also be made by phone.
The "Maitda Cafe," jointly operated by the Daegu Mental Health Welfare Center and district/county mental health welfare centers, strengthens the region-based mental health care system and supports early detection and intervention for mental disorders by connecting high-risk individuals to consultations and treatment with psychiatric specialists.
Kang Yeonsook, Director of Health Promotion at Daegu City, stated, "Psychological difficulties can happen to anyone," and added, "Daegu will continue to expand the 'Maitda Cafe' project, a counseling service based in citizens' daily lives, to care for your mental health."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
